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Violence and intimidation monitor

The Violence and Intimidation Monitor will log cases of election-related violence and intimidation as reported in the media and by human rights organisations. Where the motives or causes of an incident are a matter of dispute, this will be noted in the log.

November 22 2015:
INCIDENT
Chaos erupted at Kuvukiland informal settlement in Tsumeb as Swapo members there denied members of the Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) from holding their meeting at the settlement. The meeting was supposed to have started at 15h00 on November 22, but after an hour it still had not started and the CDV members had to retreat and look for another venue where the meeting would take place. (NBC)

November 19 2015:
INCIDENT
Supporters of Swapo and opposition party UDF were involved in tense confrontations at Khorixas on November 19, with police having to be called in to pull apart the two angry crowds. Swapo supporters marched at the town and, as they passed the local UDF office, supporters of both parties started hurling insults at each other before the police rushed to the scene to restore order. The police at Khorixas later banned political marches after the incident. (New Era)

November 14-15 2015:
INCIDENT
The DTA’s office in the Epupa Constituency Office burned down over the weekend of November 14-15 in a suspected case of arson. The opposition alleged that Swapo activists were behind the arson attack. The claim was made by DTA President McHenry Venaani.
President Hage Geingob through his press secretary Albertus Aochamub - advised the opposition politician to report such cases to the police and the ECN. Epupa is expected to be one of the more closely contested constituencies at the Regional Council elections. (Namibian Sun)

November 11 2014:
INCIDENT
At Oshakati, where DTA President McHenry Venaani addressed his party’s rally, a group of flag-waving Swapo supporters tried to disrupt the gathering, but the police acted promptly and stopped them before they could come closer. (Source: Namibian Sun)

November 11 2014:
INCIDENT
At Outapi in the Omusati Region, a group of Swapo supporters besieged a house belonging to Helvy Shilongo, an RDP member. They removed a party flag, set it on fire and threatened to do the same with the house itself. The group of Swapo supporters only dispersed before midnight, allegedly leaving a message that they would return and destroy the house on November 29 as part of their victory celebrations. “The police patrolled the area the whole night and urged us to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements,” said a distressed Shilongo, whose house doubles as a day-care centre. (Source: Namibian Sun)

November 11 2014:
INCIDENT
Three female Evululuko residents of Oshakati – Julia Mattheus, 21, Desderia David, 20, and Victoria Nghipakwamwenyo, 20, – described how men sporting Swapo colours descended on them with a variety of weapons. Mattheus was hit with a wheel spanner, sustaining injuries to the forehead and the right arm. David was hit in the face with a stone while Nghipakwamwenyo sustained injuries to her left arm. The incident happened around 18:00 but by 23:30 the women were still at the police station where officers allegedly refused to register their case because “the suspects are unknown”.
“Police officers mocked us for wearing RDP colours and they came up with all kinds of excuses why we should not be assisted. When we insisted on laying criminal charges, one female officer called us vulgar names, and I was even called a witch,” David said. Cases of assault were eventually registered and the three women received medical treatment at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. (Source: Namibian Sun)

November 11 2014:
INCIDENT
Incidents of political violence were reported at Onamindi village in the Okalongo Constituency where Swapo and DTA supporters clashed at local shebeens. (Source: Namibian Sun)

November 7 2014:
INCIDENT
The DTA accused members of the ruling Swapo party in Oshakati in the Oshana region of removing their election posters and campaign materials from public areas and lampposts. DTA Secretary for Organisation, Agatus Antanga, argued that it was Swapo members or supporters because other opposition party materials had been removed but Swapo's remained. The Swapo party coordinator for the Oshana region Erastus Kapolo dismissed the accusations and stated that the Swapo leadership has instructed its members not to touch the election material of opposition political parties. (Source: The Namibian newspaper)

November 4 2014:
INCIDENT
In response to the events that occurred between Swapo party members or sympathisers and RDP members on Tuesday the 28th of October in Okuryangava a case of malicious damage to prrperty and theft was opened. Police constable Bernita Nangolo confirmed that the charge had been brought against two women, who are said to be supporters or sympathisers of Swapo, by RDP member Sackaria Namuhuya. Namuhuya reiterated that the RDP had prior to the incident paid a fee to the City of Windhoek to allow for campaign materials to be put up in public areas. He accused Swapo of using intimidation against his party. (Source: The Namibian newspaper)

October 28 2014:
INCIDENT
Members of the Swapo and RDP parties engaged in a fist fight over the placement of political posters along Ongava Street in Okuryangava, according to The Namibian newspaper. The scuffle took place on the evening of October 28 after RDP members attempted to place a campaign poster on a municipality pole, which is located inside a private yard. The owner of the house, who opted to remain unidentified, said she politely asked the RDP supporters not to place the poster on the pole as she did not want her friends and family to mistakenly think she belongs to the party. When RDP officials refused, a brawl broke out between supporters from both parties who were at the scene. Police were then called after members from both parties threatened each other. When The Namibian visited the area on the following morning, RDP posters from the intersection of Ekundi Street and Ongava street towards Okahandja informal settlement had been taken down, while those along Ongava street down the Okuryangava meat market were still intact. It is not known who took down the posters.

February 14 2014:
Related news
The Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Charles Namoloh condemned the arbitrary and undemocratic designation of 'no go areas' for party political activity. Namoloh said all registered political parties should be allowed to hold political rallies anywhere in Namibia without exception. (Source: New Era)

February 7 2014:
Related news
The Namibian police vowed not to tolerate any form of political violence as the country gears up for political campaigns and eventually the elections in November this year. Police Inspector General, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, adding that all 14 regional commanders have been instructed to inform political leaders in the regions that the police will not tolerate any behaviour that does not promote an atmosphere of peace. (Source: New Era)

February 2 2014:
Related news
The argument between Swapo and the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) about which party may place its flag on which tree returned when the RDP put up a few flags on trees near the shebeens at Olupandu in the Omusati Region. Swapo supporters interpreted the RDP action as provocation and reacted by putting up five times as many flags of their own. (Source: Namibian Sun)

January 28 2014:
INCIDENT
The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) launched an investigation into allegations that the Oshiwambo Radio Service was used to intimidate voters. Kondjashili Simon – better known on radio as Mapeni Protocol – allegedly told listeners to register as voters or risk forfeiting essential services provided by government. (Source: Namibian Sun)